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Patented Sept. 27, I898. F. B. MORSE.

S H 0 E.

[Application filed Sept. 10, 1897.)

(No Model.)

l vitweaou UNrrnn TATES FRANK B. MORSE, OF HAVERHILL, MASSACHUSETTS.

. SHOE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 611,266, dated September 27, 1898. Application filed September 10, 1897. Serial No. 651,180. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK B. MORSE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Haverhill, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoes; and I do de-.

thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention seeks to so improve the construction of a shoe-upper that the shoe will fit closely to the ankle and will have all the flexibility and freedom of movement that is necessary for ease and comfort in walking, bicycle-riding, and other forms of athletic exercise, while at the same time it will give the ankle a neat and slender appearance.

A further object of the invention is to 1 economize i n the quantity of leather necessary to form the upper and thereby reduce the cost of the shoe without detracting fromits quality.

\Vith these objects in view the invention consists in providing the upper with an elastic gore in its side and with narrow tongues rising from the base of the gore-opening, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings and hereinafter first fully described and then pointed out in the claim.

Shoes provided with elastic gores of various shapes have been made heretofore and are well known. While they give free movement to the ankle, the unsupported goring soon loses its shape, and if of a poor quality of rubber it quickly stretches to such an extent as to fail to hold the shoe. It has been attempted to overcome this defect by constructing the upper with a compound gore consisting of alternate strips of leather and elastic goring. This arrangement, however, is unsatisfactory and objectionable because the leather strip passes over the ankle and although supporting it causes an irritation of the same during walking or other exercise. Furthermore, the leather-strip by bearing directly on the ankle renders the shoe uncomfortable to the wearer. All of these objections are overcome by my invention.

1 quarter.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a shoe embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is ahorizontal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the quarter. Fig. 4 is an elevation of the inner side of the shoe, showing the lining and the elastic goring; and Fig. 5 is a view showing the form of the quarter when a facing is used.

In carrying out my invention I cut the rear and lower edges of the quarterA'on the usual lines; but the front edge B thereof is cut on a line running decidedly in rear of the line usually followed by the front edge of the To form the gore-opening, I cut a series of slits 0, running from the top of the quarter downward to near the bottom of the same, thereby forming two or more slender tongues D, rising from the base of the goreopening and terminating a short distance below the top of the same. The elastic webbing or goring E is cut in asingle piece large enough to cover the entire gore-opening and is sewed to the edges of the same, the tongues D being sewed flat against the outer face of the goring. The lining F is cut to follow the outline of the goring, except that it is formed with the upwardly-projecting points G,which serve to reinforce the tongues D at their bases. When the shoe is properly fashioned, the top of the quarter will be rather narrow, so that when attached to the goring it will be spread somewhat, and consequently there will be a reaction or tendency of the quarter to hug the ankle and thereby aid the goring to support the same. The elastic properties of the goring are not affected and free movement of the ankle is permitted. The tongues D smooth and easy surface.

When a facing is employed, the quarter is out without the usual front strip and the facing is. secured at its lower end to the front corner of the quarter, as shown in Fig. 5.

The saving effected by my invention in the quantity of leather used is obvious. The shoe has a neat and attractive appearance, and its wearer may take all desired exercise without any feeling of fatigue or any weakening or irritation of the ankle. The shoe is laced or otherwise fastened in the usual manner.

It must be understood that I make no broad claim to a combined leather and elastic gore, my invention residing in providing two or more narrow leather tongues rising from the base of the gore-opening and on the outside of a single continuous elastic gore. These tongues serve to hold the goring close around the ankle, so that the ankle will be braced and the shoe caused to fit the ankle perfectly, while at the same time free movement of the ankle is permitted Without any irritation thereof. Furthermore, the gorin g being nearly coextensive with the quarter a great saving of leather is effected.

Having thus described my inventio11,what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A shoe having its quarter provided with a gore-opening and having a series of slender tongues rising from the base of said opening, an elastic gorin g extending over the entire opening and sewed to the side edges of the same, the tongues being sewed t0 the outside of the said gorin g, and a shoe-lining sewed to the edge of the said goring and having'points on its upper edge sewed to and reinforcin g the bases of the tongues.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK B. MORSE.

\Vi tnesses:

OLIVER S. HUBBARD, FRED. E. PARKI-IURST. 

